By MCN Editor editor@moviecitynews.com

Bona Film Group Secures Strategic Investment From News Corporation: Global Media Company to Purchase Minority Stake

Posted Sunday, May 13th, 2012 - Comments Off on Bona Film Group Secures Strategic Investment From News Corporation: Global Media Company to Purchase Minority Stake
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BEIJING, May 13, 2012 — Bona Film Group Limited (Nasdaq:BONA), a leading film distributor and vertically integrated film company in China, today announced that the Company has secured a strategic investment from News Corporation.

Under the investment agreement, News Corporation will acquire a 19.9% equity stake in Bona directly from the Company’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, Mr. Dong Yu.

Mr. Yu has entered into separate agreements to acquire 1,000,000 Bona ordinary shares from SIG China Investments One, Ltd., 1,000,000 Bona ordinary shares from Matrix Partners China Funds and 1,500,000 Bona ordinary shares from the Sequoia Funds, at an average price of $11.40 per share, or $5.70 per American Depositary Share.

“We are thrilled to receive this strategic investment from News Corporation,” said Dong Yu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bona Film Group Limited. “As one of the leading film distributors in China, we are committed to bringing the best quality Chinese films to broad
audiences around the world. News Corporation’s extensive global reach, investment and distribution will help accelerate our strategy to expand our global footprint.

“Since our IPO in 2010, we have developed our business significantly and we believe now is the time to diversify our ownership structure by introducing select strategic investors. This is an exciting period of growth for China’s film industry, and we look forward to exploring the international commercial opportunities for Chinese films with our new partner,” Mr. Yu concluded.

“One of Bona’s unique advantages is its vertically-integrated business model, which differentiates the Company from other film distributors in China,” said Dr. Jack Gao, SVP, News Corporation & CEO, News Corporation China Investments. “China’s film market is growing at a rapid pace, positioning the country to be the second largest film market following the United States, and Bona’s market leadership, compelling value proposition and tremendous growth potential make this an attractive opportunity for News Corporation.”

Following the close of these transactions, Mr. Yu’s ownership will be reduced to 8,210,803 ordinary shares (not including options to purchase 545,615 ordinary shares), representing approximately 27.0% of the Company’s ordinary shares outstanding. These transactions are expected to close in the next 15 days and are subject to customary closing conditions.

About Bona Film Group Limited

Bona Film Group Limited (Nasdaq:BONA) is a leading film distributor in China, with an integrated business model encompassing film distribution, film production, film exhibition and talent representation. Bona distributes films to Greater China, Korea, Southeast Asia, the United States and Europe, invests and produces movies in a variety of genres, owns and operates 13 movie theaters and manages a range of talented and popular Chinese artists.

For more information about Bona, please visit http://www.bonafilm.cn.

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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?

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